o hold the claims and Thirlwell was puzzled, because
he saw the men were miners and thought they knew their labor was thrown
away. He imagined that Stormont had sent them, but could not see the
latter's object. The fellow could hardly expect to reach the inclined
vein except at a depth that would make it extremely expensive to work,
and Thirlwell had improved his own and the adjoining claims enough to
protect them legally from encroachment. Still Stormont was unscrupulous
and it was possible he had some cunning plan for embarrassing the
company. Thirlwell felt disturbed, but he had no grounds for interfering
with the men, and although their relations were rather strained when
they met, he left them alone.

CHAPTER XXXI

THIRLWELL'S REWARD

Winter was nearly over when, one evening, George and Scott arrived at
the Farnam homestead where Agatha was a guest. The house was centrally
heated, and when the party gathered in Mrs. Farnam's pretty, warm room,
Agatha wondered what Thirlwell was doing in the frozen North. Farnam had
invested some money in the mine, and Agatha knew George had come to talk
about the company's business.

"Things are not going well with us," he said presently. "Our money's
nearly spent and Thirlwell has not been able to get out much ore. I
think I told you he suspected Stormont sent the men who staked the
claims behind our block, and the fellow's now getting on our track. He's
been to see Gardner, Leeson, and one or two others."

"It would be awkward if they turned us down," Farnam remarked.

Agatha waited. She knew Gardner and Leeson held a number of the shares,
but she did not understand the matter yet.

"Very awkward," George agreed. "I went to Leeson, and although he didn't
say much, I reckon Stormont wants to buy his stock. He allowed that he
and Gardner were not satisfied about our prospects, and I couldn't give
him much ground for holding on. Then I went to Hill, who said he'd got
an offer for his stock and meant to sell, but wouldn't name the buyer. I
suspected Stormont again, but we won't know until we get the transfer
form."

"One could head him off by bidding higher for the shares," Farnam
suggested. "Still I suppose it's impossible. Anyhow, I have no more
money."

"That applies to all of us," George said dryly.

Agatha smiled, for the situation had a touch of ironical humor. In a
sense, she was rich, but she was forced to practise stern economy and
had not the means to d